'W Korea' featured director Park Chan-wook and actress Son Ye-jin sharing casting behind-the-scenes and clearing up misunderstandings about each other.
On the 24th, a video titled "'No Other Choice' director Park Chan-wook, actress Son Ye-jin's decisive moments. What moment does director Park Chan-wook become most immersed in during film production? by W Korea" was posted on the 'W Korea' channel.
That day, he traced the first spark of the work 'No Other Choice.' Director Park Chan-wook said, "When I appear on broadcasts and during interviews, the answer to when I conceived this movie is always different," adding, "I read the original novel in 2004–2005. In 2006 the original novel was republished, I wrote a recommendation and said I wanted to make a film."
Director Park continued, "When I went to the Cannes Film Festival with 'Thirst' I met a French producer who owned the rights, and I secured the rights in 2010," adding, "Director Lee Kyung-mi had already started the screenplay; she did it before the rights contract was made—what made her trust that, I don't know."
Also that day, about the work 'No Other Choice' Park Chan-wook said, "The film is set in the United States. I prepared it for many years as an American film," and said, "After making Decision to Leave in 2022 I decided to change it into a Korean film, and seeing it made together with these actors I thought this is what I wanted." He also said, "If the budget I wanted was 10,000 won, the studio said they'd give about 7,000 won, so I refused and held out and then changed it to a Korean film. I'm glad it can capture the charms of our actors."
He asked about casting behind-the-scenes. Director Park Chan-wook said, "I needed a sense of realism for a middle-class wife who is neither very poor nor rich and is a mother of two working at a job," adding, "After seeing the film 'No Secrets' I felt that realism; Lee Byung-hun and I thought Son Ye-jin was the only one for the role of Mi-ri."
He went on to say, "The problem was, although I was confident the role had sufficient weight on the page, I was most worried whether Son Ye-jin would see it that way," and "As expected, I heard talk that 'a negative vibe is spreading.'" Son Ye-jin, surprised, said, "Did you think I met to express refusal? I didn't know; that's news to me," adding, "At first the role of Mi-ri was much smaller; when I closed the script the intensity hit me." "Even if it was small, I felt overwhelmingly that I had to do it," she said.
To this Park Chan-wook said happily, "I didn't know. Anyway, when I heard she would do it I couldn't control my expression." Son Ye-jin laughed and said, "Actually the director had a reluctant expression. I thought, you don't look happy," adding, "I'm hearing this misunderstanding here." Park Chan-wook said, "Son Ye-jin told her friends, 'Why did you do that movie?' She just asked me not to hear that. It was a scary remark," adding, "Who are those friends? I worried until the editing was finished; I'm revealing it now," and said, "If I said I'd change it, I changed it. I kept my promise."
[Photo] Provided by CJ ENM, OSEN DB
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